Policies and Procedures for Intimacy in Collegiate Theatre
About this research:
This research began after working on a collegiate production with our fight choreographer, Tara Williams, who was also a certified intimacy choreographer. I found that a majority of professional theatre companies and screen work industries were utilizing these professionals and their practices. However I noticed that this was not a consistent practice among collegiate theatre programs in preparation for professional work. As someone who has participated in a multitude of areas relating to theatre including acting, dancing, stage managing, and choreographing I wondered what we could learn in a collegiate setting to better prepare us to advocate for ourselves and others in this very intimate profession. Throughout this research I attending workshops, discussed ideas with industry professional, and worked hand in hand with other students in my department during our production of Life is a Dream. I created guidelines for Stage Management on the basics of check in and check out procedures and choreographed the intimacy through use of exercises and verbal conversations. From there I have generated a guidebook for Policies and Procedures for Intimacy in Collegiate Theatre that our program could continue to use after I graduate.
What is Intimacy?
“Intimacy Coordination for TV and Film, or Intimacy Direction for Theatre and Live Performance, is the codified system for choreographing and performing scenes of intimacy on stage and screen. This unique method allows for the creation of specific and repeatable choreography that effectively realizes the director’s vision while prioritizing the safety and confidence of all those involved in the production.”
-Intimacy Directors and Coordinators
Why do we need it?
-
Entertainers have been psychologically trained to say “yes” in order to avoid being a “difficult actor.”
-
To keep directors and choreographers from creating physically and mentally unsafe choreography.
-
To avoid abuse of power between producers, directors, stage managers, choreographers, and actors.
-
To avoid “showmances” or cases where actors take the feelings they’ve created for their character and bring them into real life which skews the line between actor and character.
Why do we need it in collegiate theatre?
-
To avoid abuse of power between the natural hierarchy of professor to student.
-
To prepare students for real world application, knowing that they are in fact allowed to say “no.”
-
To create a world for our audiences that is realistic, but safe for performers.
What policies and procedures can we implement to create a safe environment for intimacy?
Guidebook for Policies and Procedures for Intimacy in Collegiate Theatre​